Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to extend my thanks to all parents who attended the Lae International School Association Annual General Meeting on Tuesday. Your commitment and support are vital to the strength of our school community, and it was wonderful to see such strong engagement.

At the AGM, the new School Association Committee members were confirmed, and at a subsequent meeting, the Lae International School Association Chairperson was ratified. I am pleased to announce the 2026 School Association Committee Members are:

• Donna Aisi – Chair
• Herman Kunsei – Vice Chair
• Carmellina Amol – Member
• Gemma King – Member
• Mikal Nolan – Member
• Annastacia Karoto – Member
• Diandrah Rosso – Member
• Principal, Teacher’s Representative, and IEA Representative – Ex Officio Members

The Committee plays a strategic role in guiding the future direction of Lae International School. Their responsibilities include setting standards, supporting the Principal, and ensuring that our vision for excellence in education continues to thrive. It is general practice for the School Association Members to take on the role as Board of Governor members once ratified by the IEA.

I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our retiring Committee and Board members – Maria Howden, Yvonne Nesol, and Barry Namongo – for their dedicated service and invaluable contributions to the governance of our school. Their commitment and leadership have helped strengthen our foundations and set us on a path of continued success.

We look forward to working closely with the new members as we build on these strong foundations and pursue new opportunities for growth and achievement.

Success Starts Here!

Mr Gregory  Neville

Principal 

Lae International School

The Senior Leadership Team has reviewed our food policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students. Please note the following guidelines:

• Food brought by students must not be shared among classmates. Students should only consume the food packed for them by their parents or guardians.
• Parents are not permitted to bring any food for class events other than a birthday cake or cupcakes.
• Next week, parents of each primary campus class will receive a permission slip via the Audiri App asking them to give consent for their child to participate in eating cake at birthday celebrations throughout the year. Secondary students are presumed mature enough to manage this without permission slips.
• Chewing gum, lollies, soft drinks, and chips are not permitted in student lunches.
• School fundraising events selling a variety of treats will continue as planned. 

These measures are in place due to dietary and allergy restrictions and to promote healthy eating habits across our school community.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all students.

Recently, there have been several instances of unsafe driving in the school carparks. As the safety of our children is paramount, please take note of the following guidelines:

• No taxis are allowed in the carpark unless prior notification has been given to the school.
• The speed limit is strictly 5 km/h.
• Please follow the directions of carpark attendants and security officers.
• Park only in designated parking areas. Do not park on the side if already full, as this blocks traffic and creates bottlenecks.
• Parking or idling in the middle of roadways for drop-off or pick-up is not allowed. Please use the designated areas.
• Take extra caution during pick-up and drop-off times, as there are many small children moving through the carpark.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school environment safe.

We’re happy to let you know that the school uniform shop has been fully restocked. All standard items, including hats, are now available for purchase.

Thank you for your patience and continued support while we awaited new stock.

Displayed below are copies of the behaviour stages implemented by all staff when responding to instances of negative behaviour. Parents who wish to obtain a complete copy of the school’s Positive Behaviour Policy may request one from the school office, located in either the Primary or Secondary campus.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are now midway through the term, and most students have returned and are well settled into school and classroom routines. A warm welcome to the new families who joined our school last week and this week—we are delighted to have you as part of our community.

Please remember to communicate directly with your child’s class teacher if you have any concerns or need assistance. Working together helps us ensure every student feels supported and thrives in their learning.

Disco Success!

We had a fantastic disco on Wednesday, 18th February, organised by the LIS P&F group. The students had a wonderful time dancing and enjoying the afternoon together.

It was great to see donations coming in from parents and to have parents join in to help with the event. A very special thank you also goes to our dedicated LIS staff and student leaders for their support in making the disco such a success.

Steps to Success – Weekly Focus

At LIS, we are committed to nurturing the values and skills that help our students grow both academically and personally. Each week, our Steps to Success program highlights a key focus area to guide learning and behaviour across the school.

This week, our focus is on being Ethical. Students are encouraged to think carefully about the way they behave and how they speak to their friends. Being ethical means making wise decisions that promote fairness, respect, honesty, and responsibility. By practicing these values, students strengthen our school community and show what it means to be a caring and responsible team member.

Next week, we continue with promoting ethical behaviour. We will support students in exploring fairness, honesty, and responsibility, helping them understand how these values build trust and integrity in both learning and relationships.

Spelling focus

This week, the focus letter sound is “A”, and your child should have brought home a list of words on Monday to practice at home. Please take a moment to check in with your child to ensure they have their spelling words and are working with them regularly.

Looking ahead to next week:

• Grades 1–6 will focus on the letter sound “k c q ck x”.
• Prep will continue with their High Frequency Words (HFW).
• Grades 7–8 will work with their assigned spelling word lists.

We appreciate your support in encouraging consistent practice at home, as this greatly reinforces the learning taking place in the classroom.

Head Lice Check

We kindly remind all parents to check your child’s head regularly and treat any signs of head lice promptly. Please ensure appropriate treatment procedures are followed to prevent the spread of head lice at school.

By taking these steps, we can work together to keep our classrooms healthy and comfortable for all students.

Visiting the School During Instructional Hours

We kindly remind parents and visitors that all visits during instructional hours (8:30am – 3pm) should begin at the school office. For the safety and smooth running of classes, parents should not go directly to classrooms.

If you wish to meet with your child’s teacher, please arrange an appointment through the school office or send an email to your child’s teacher. This ensures that teachers can give you their full attention without interrupting valuable learning time.

Traffic and Safety Guidelines – School Drop‑Off and Pick‑Up

To ensure the safety of our students and the smooth flow of traffic, we kindly remind all parents and drivers of the following expectations when entering and using the school carpark:

• Please observe the 5 km/h speed limit when driving through the drop‑off and pick‑up area at all times.
• Parents arriving by taxi must ensure that windows are down when entering the school and while in the carpark area.
• When parking, please respect all school stop signs and markers, and be considerate of other vehicles.
• For quick pick‑up and drop‑off, cars may stop in the designated drop‑off/pick‑up zone.
• For longer stops or visits, vehicles should be parked under the trees to keep the main area clear.

Grade 8 National Examination Certificates

• The 2025 Grade 8 National Examination Certificates are yet to be printed and delivered by the Education Department.
• We will advise families as soon as they are received.

School Gate Access & Supervision

• Please note: access to the school grounds will only be granted upon presentation of your parent access card.
• The school gate opens at 7:30am for students to enter.
• There is no supervision before 7:30am. Students must wait with their parents until the gate opens.

Looking ahead

• Week 6 – Public Holiday Thursday 26th February
• Week 6 – Friday 27Th February (Grade 8MP Learning Assembly)
• Week 7 – Friday 06th March (Grade 2LT Learning Assembly)

• Week 8 – Grade 8 First Mock Exam.
• Week 9 – Parent – Teacher conferencing 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to this week’s Secondary update. We’re pleased to share a few important notices and reminders from across the campus.

PE Swimming – Years 9 & 10 Swimming lessons over the past three weeks have been very successful, with students engaging enthusiastically in the program. A friendly reminder to please ensure your child brings the required swimming attire and equipment to school every Friday so they can participate fully.

Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) Secondary ECAs are now underway. We extend our sincere thanks to staff and community members who have volunteered their time and talents to support these enriching programs. If your child is interested in joining an activity, please contact the school office for more information.

Certificate Collection The following certificates are now available for collection from the Secondary Office:

• Year 10 PNG Lower Secondary

• Year 10 Cambridge IGCSE

• Year 12 PNG Upper Secondary

• Year 12 ACT Senior Secondary

Please ensure certificates are collected promptly and stored safely.

Mock Exams – Years 10 & 12 Congratulations to our Year 10 and Year 12 students on completing their mock examinations. We commend them for their focus and effort during this important preparation phase.

Teaching and Learning Update Teaching and learning continue to progress well across the Secondary campus. Students are engaging actively in lessons, and we are proud of the positive learning environment being fostered.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership with the LIS Secondary community. Your involvement plays a vital role in our students’ success and wellbeing.

Warm regards,

James Winas

Head of Secondary

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are delighted to share highlights from a truly uplifting event held last weekend. Our school had the privilege of hosting a visit from the talented band from Ukarumpa International School. Their performance filled our school hall with joy, energy and inspiration, reminding us of the power of music to bring people together.

The band’s repertoire included a mix of Pidgin and English hymns, which resonated deeply with our students. Many were moved by the heartfelt lyrics and the passion with which the band performed.

Beyond the music, the group shared encouraging messages about faith, perseverance and community, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff and students of Ukarumpa International School for sharing their gifts with us.

This visit not only enriched our cultural and spiritual life, but also strengthened the bonds between our schools. We look forward to more opportunities to celebrate music, fellowship and shared values in the future.

Upcoming Events

·         26 February – Special program to celebrate the life of the Late Sir Michael Thomas Somare

·         7 March – Boarding house disco

·         21 March – Traditional cooking in regional groups

Safety Reminders When Authorising Leave from the Boarding House

Parents may take their child on leave from the boarding house; however, it is expected that students attend classes for the full duration of the term. Signing out during the school week will not be permitted, as we have ongoing programs that require students to remain on campus. A day’s notice of any intention to go on weekend leave is requested to assist with planning.

Often, a boarder may call their parents to approve a host to sign them out for the weekend. Kindly consider the following for the boarder’s safety:

·         Have you contacted the host to confirm their permission and willingness to take responsibility for the boarder?

·         Do you know what activity the boarder will be participating in?

·         Do you approve of the location they will be visiting?

Once you give your approval, the host will be required to comply with the following conditions:

·         The host agrees to be responsible for the student’s whereabouts at all times

·         The host agrees to contact the boarding house should there be any changes to the leave details

·         The host agrees to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the boarder

·         The host agrees to return the boarder in person at the agreed time to the boarding house

We will discourage last-minute requests from students, as it may compromise safety.

Warm regards,

John Kalenda 

Head of Boarding  

There are many photo opportunities at our school and student images are often used in publications, such as the Newsletter, and displayed online through the school website / Facebook and Instagram pages. Student images will continue to be featured in the Newsletter, website and other media this year. If you do not wish photos of your child to be displayed through any form of print or digital media, please advise the office.